SULPHUR — Acadiana wrecked the return of playoff volleyball to Sulphur, beating the Tors in four sets to spoil the first postseason game in Sulphur since 2003.

The No. 18 Rams won 25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19 and advanced to play at No. 2 Mount Carmel in the second round of the Division I playoffs. Acadiana won all three matches against Sulphur this season.

The taller Rams (22-13) overpowered the Tors at the net. Nia Antoine had 25 kills, Destiny McCoy added 15 kills and Kennedi Smith had 10 kills and 12 assists.

The Tors (22-13) rallied at the end of the first set, scoring seven consecutive points to pull within 20-18, but kills by McCoy and Smith keyed a 5-1 Acadiana spurt to close the set.

In the second game, the score was tied at 17 before Acadiana scored eight of the final nine points. Sulphur rebounded in the third set, scoring the first five points and then seven in a row to break a 14-14 tie. Kaitlyn Gertz had three kills and two aces.

Acadiana pulled away in the second half of the fourth set, taking command with a 9-1 outburst which featured three kills by Antoine, whose attacks sailed over block attempts by the Tors.

“We had a slow start. I commended them on coming back,” said Sulphur head coach Julie Mancuso. “I think they showed character throughout the whole match, not rolling over and dying. It is a tough loss, but we gave it our all. We had a better year than we have had in a long time and I am really proud of them.”

Antoine’s height and power were too much for the Tors to overcome.

“She is tough; she is over us,” Mancuso said. “We dug her up a few times, but she is tough and we don’t have anyone that powerful on our side to put the ball away.”

Gertz had eight aces, nine kills, 10 digs and 12 assists to lead Sulphur. Kristian Credeur added eight kills, Keylee Young five kills, Kayla Sheridan 14 digs and Jayleen Lanteir had three aces and 14 digs.(Kirk Meche/Special to the American Press)

Kirk Meche